He heard that cashmere sweaters sold well in Shanghai and specially sent someone to study for three months. He also imported a batch of machines from Japan. The money earned from previous orders was gradually invested in the factory.
He originally thought everything was ready and it was a guaranteed moneymaker once production started. Who knew it would get stuck at sales.
Because of the high cost, the price was naturally not cheap. The wholesale price was at least thirty to forty yuan. The retail price for stores was even higher. A cashmere sweater worn inside would cost more than a month's salary, and people simply weren't buying.
The market didn't open up, and the first batch of cashmere sweaters produced was all piled up in the warehouse. What's more, the cooperative national cotton mill was also overdue in paying back funds. He had to personally go and urge them to pay.
Han Shenglin said a few simple words, then looked at her curiously and asked, "By the way, Xiao Chen, why are you here?"
Chen Lishu showed a wry smile. "The store is out of stock, so I wanted to see if I could get some from the national cotton mill. The factory is busy right now, and I was asked to leave after saying only a few words."
As Chen Lishu spoke, she suddenly thought of the cashmere sweaters he mentioned and her heart moved slightly.
Cashmere sweaters were great items later on. Pure cashmere sweaters were not only light, soft, and comfortable, but also warmer than woolen sweaters. Coincidentally, Han Shenglin was worried about sales, and she was worried about supply. The two of them could join forces and cooperate.
With this in mind, Chen Lishu shared her idea. Han Shenglin was surprised. "Xiao Chen, you want to get cashmere sweaters?"
Chen Lishu smiled. "Uncle Han, do you have time? It's not convenient to talk here. How about we go to a restaurant outside? It's almost noon, and I'll treat you to a meal."
Seeing that she wasn't joking, Han Shenglin nodded. They left the national cotton mill together and found a relatively large state-run restaurant nearby, where they requested a private room.
"Xiao Chen, are you really planning to get that batch of cashmere sweaters?"
Seeing her nod, Han Shenglin hesitated before speaking. "Given our friendship, there are some things I must remind you of. The cost of cashmere sweaters is high, and the price is naturally not cheap. The factory's lowest wholesale price is thirty. Sales outside are actually not good, and they prefer Shanghai-made cashmere sweaters. Furthermore, our local consumption level cannot be compared to Shanghai or Beijing. To be honest, my decision at the time was indeed a bit rash."
He had known Xiao Chen for some time. The girl was genuinely good, sincere, and enthusiastic. Although he was anxious to sell the cashmere sweaters and cash in, he still had to give her the necessary advice.
Chen Lishu knew he was being kind, but she had her own considerations. Currently, she couldn't keep up with raw materials, labor, and other aspects. The policies were also not very clear, and she would have to wait to develop her own brand. She felt that cashmere sweaters were a good project.
"Uncle Han, how many pieces are there in the factory now?"
"Twelve hundred pieces." The factory had stopped producing cashmere sweaters before finding buyers, and they also lacked the funds to continue holding them.
"I'd like to see samples first. If it's okay, I'll order all of them, but I have a prerequisite."
All, all of them?
Han Shenglin looked at Chen Lishu in astonishment. Over a thousand pieces, that was nearly forty thousand yuan, and she was ordering all of them without batting an eye? "You say, let alone one piece, as long as you take over this batch of goods, I'll agree to all your conditions."
Chen Lishu smiled. "I want to be the general agent for our 'Peony' brand cashmere sweaters in the Northeast."
Han Shenglin was confused. "General agent?"
"That means within the Northeast region, the factory's price for cashmere sweaters must be guaranteed to be the lowest. Furthermore, besides me, you cannot wholesale to any other party in the Northeast. In exchange, I will order no less than thirty percent of the factory's output each year. That is, regardless of whether sales are good or bad, I will bear thirty percent of the risk."
The reason she chose the Northeast was that further south, the coverage areas of factories would overlap, and the profit margin in the middle would be significantly reduced. Besides, she wasn't greedy; she wasn't considering a nationwide agency for now. It was better to take it step by step.
"This..."
Han Shenglin had also been in the business world for many years. At first glance, the conditions proposed by Chen Lishu seemed very beneficial to the factory, but upon closer consideration, they weren't particularly advantageous.
The factory's main customers were indeed in the Northeast. They just hadn't broken into the market yet, but he believed it was only a matter of time. However, he truly couldn't wait any longer.
After a long period of contemplation, Han Shenglin spoke, "Fifty percent."
Chen Lishu raised her eyes. "If it's fifty percent, the wholesale price of thirty must be lowered. Otherwise, the return does not match the risk I undertake, Uncle Han, what do you say?"
Han Shenglin smiled. As expected, she was a shrewd and difficult young girl who wouldn't suffer any loss.
"Then forty percent. The Northeast was originally our factory's main customer base. Now that it's all sold to you, we don't have much advantage going elsewhere."
"Then the price will be twenty-eight, and we'll each take a step back."
Han Shenglin shook his head helplessly. "Alright, it will be as you say."
As she had classes in the afternoon, they agreed to inspect the goods the next day and sign the contract. After the meal, they parted ways.
The next day, after finishing her morning classes, Chen Lishu went directly to the wool textile factory by car. Besides Han Shenglin, the factory's secretary and another leader were there to receive her. They were all surprised to see such a young girl.
Soon, the group took Chen Lishu to the warehouse to see the goods.
The batch of cashmere sweaters produced by the factory were in burgundy and dark gray cardigans. The burgundy was for women, and the dark gray was for men. With hindsight, the colors and styles were definitely not good-looking, but from the perspective of that era, paired with a Dacron shirt underneath, they were definitely fashionable.
The two parties first signed the agency contract, and then Chen Lishu paid for the twelve hundred pieces of goods in one lump sum. The factory arranged for a truck to deliver them directly to her store. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Happy cooperation." Han Shenglin smiled and shook hands with Chen Lishu, then picked up two bags from the side of the table. "These are the blankets produced by the factory. Now that the weather is getting cold, they are very warm whether you use them underneath or to cover yourself. I've been meaning to give them to you, and now I have the opportunity."
"How can I accept this?" Chen Lishu felt a little embarrassed. A blanket cost seventy to eighty yuan, so two would be over a hundred yuan.
"You have solved a big problem for the factory, and it's not too much at all. Xiao Chen, please take them," the secretary on the side also said with a smile.
Chen Lishu smiled and accepted them. "Then I will respectfully accept your kind offer."
...
"So many goods? You got the goods in just a few days, sis?" Wang Aixiang looked at the workers carrying the goods up and down, and couldn't help but gasp.
"The price of this batch of cashmere sweaters is not cheap, and it's not certain whether they will sell."
After sending off the workers, Chen Lishu and Wang Aixiang opened a package together and took out the cashmere sweaters of the two styles, hanging them on the shelves.